To cold-send a cv asking for a job when none have been advertised

[SunnivaGunne]

I live near a National Trust type building. I would like to work there. It being autumn their busiest season is over.

I have the name of the person I should contact but I am unsure about just sending her my cv when they have not advertised any openings.

How does one approach these things? I went back to work last year after an embarrassing number of years as a sahm and I love working. Unfortunately my first job was a year long contract for the same length project hence now looking for another.

Got for it, people do this all the time, it's absolutely fine. You may not get a reply, which is fair enough if they haven't advertised a position but just say you would like your CV held on file should anything arise

Opportunities arise when you seek them out.

Most NT properties have a large team of volunteers, so if there are no jobs available, could you send your CV but also ask if there are any volunteering opportunities to help you gain experience?

It may be a way to get your foot in the door.

Another one saying go for it. Write a good covering email explaining why you would like to work there and what you offer. Ask that they keep your details on file. Good luck.

I’ve never personally done this but my friend did with her current workplace, as long as you send an excellent covering letter along with your cv it doesn’t hurt to try.

Ring and ask to speak to the person who's name you have. Tell them you would love to work there and ask if they have any vacancies coming up. Offer to volunteer if that's appropriate, or ask how you can get involved. Be prepared to give a brief description of your skills & experience.

Hopefully you'll have a good conversation, and then you can adapt your CV accordingly before sending it in. Good luck!

(I got a dream job several years ago by phoning a company and saying I wanted to work there, so it is possible!)

I used to work for NT. Thetes no harm, but they will have a big volunteer base so most jobs used to go to one of them in my experience. Cvs used to be binned as we didn't ask for them in the hiring process and they just cluttered the office. I'd start by being a volunteer and work up from there.

I wouldn't email or phone to be honest.

I work at a NT attraction and we get loads of emails/CVs/phone calls from people wanting to work there.

However, we rarely get any actual post these days apart from junk mail.

So thinking about it, a nicely written covering letter along with the CV (addressed to the actual manager/curator/whoever) would be far more eye-catching through the post.

Yes do it, you never know they may be about to have a vacancy coming up.

I've got two jobs from speculative letters and cvs, worth a try!

Oh and find out if the place is owned by the local council.

Many NT properties are, so the staff are actually council employees.

If that's the case, register on your local council's website for work and they'll email you if a job comes up there.

ha! I am your lone responder (others more productive on Saturday ams).
I'd write a very nice covering letter, "should you have any openings."
Have you asked about volunteering? Thought NT workers were mostly volunteers.

lljkk can you not see all the other replies?

weird! I think my post came up long after my vote; my vote screen said there was only one vote so far, and 100% yanbu.

Most NT properties aren’t council owned?

Anyway, I think that would be great - I work for this sort of place and if you have time, offer to volunteer - you don’t have to give lots of time, even once a month, and it gives you insider knowledge on if jobs are coming up.

Good luck!

Most NT properties aren’t council owned?

I said 'many', not most. I can think of at least 3 that are local to me.

National Trust properties are exactly that but other stately homes (etc) are available... :)

Send with a covering letter asking to be kept on file with regards to any future vacancies

I got a job offer once that way, but by the time the offer came I'd already got a different job

If your letter stands out it's worth it. My partner runs his own business, gets sent cvs from time to time, quite a few years ago I read one that he hadn't got round to reading and I said - this is really interesting, you need to meet this woman. He took her on and she worked for him for years and was an important part of the business. So you just never know!

Actually, my mistake.

This is the main one I'm thinking of www.eastburymanorhouse.org.uk/visit-us

It's a NT property but it's managed by the local council.

Either way, they advertise vacancies on the council website.

OP I wouldn't just send a letter with a cv and ask for it to be kept on file but also ask if there would be an opportunity to meet and/or shadow the team or at least the person to whom you are sending the cv.

Hi OP I work for the NT. Though autumn is busy the best time to apply for jobs is usually Feb/March as the busiest season is Easter. Volunteers tend to take on most of the Christmassy type roles (though you may get lucky with the odd tea room/shop vacancy). I would have to say though that we just redirect any emailed CVs etc to our website as all vacancies have to be listed on here and you will have to go through the online system should a job come up!
As other people have suggested the best way to get an in is to volunteer first if you can, but I recognise this is not always easy.

I have hired a person recently who done this, I was going to start advertising when when she sent it in and she had the qualifications and experience I wanted so I say go for it, the worst that can happen is they tell you they’ve no current vacancies.